Officials of the Forest Department, in a bid to decrease ‘biotic’ pressure on the rich flora and fauna in the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, decided to restrict entry for tourists including the locals and their cattle into the forest.
Very soon, gates are to be erected at 10 entry points to the reserve that is home to about 18 tigers.
Also, the authorities have started digging wide trenches all along the boundary of the entire forest manner to stop cattle entering the reserve to graze.
The cattle are said to be responsible for degradation of the forest since they eat up tender plants too, apart from wild grass.
Field Director of the reserve, Vinay Kumar said apart from curbing the entry of cattle into the forest, the trenches would serve as rainwater harvesting structures.
“Once the gates are erected, entry into the reserve will be strictly on issue of permits. We hope to significantly improve the flora and fauna,” he said, categorically.
On Tuesday, accompanied by other officials including Divisional Forest Officer Narasimha Rao and Range Officer Bhavani Shankar, he visited the Nagarjunasagar division of the Amrabad Tiger Reserve and spent a few hours going around on inspection. He said they had also decided to have a check post at Dayyalagandi near Nagarjunasagar to monitor the flow of vehicles. The check post would help keep poaching of animals under check and also prevent illegal transport of logs from the forest.
